How to Clean Tar From Your Car
Whether it’s on a freshly paved road or driving down a patched street on a hot day, at some point you may find your car splattered with tar. And it’s not a problem that you can spend time solving: if the resin is left on your car for too long, it can damage the paintwork.
And while it may take some effort to make this happen, the resin does come off. Here’s what to know
How to remove tar from your car
As tempting as it is, don’t jump in and start scraping tar off your car. Instead, try one of the following methods:
Peanut butter
Think of it like the automotive version of using peanut butter to remove chewing gum from someone’s hair. Essentially, the oil in peanut butter permeates the resin , separating its molecules, making them easier to break down. Just apply some peanut butter on the stuck resin, let it sit for 30 minutes, and then wipe off with a new microfiber cloth. You may need to repeat the process for particularly difficult situations.
WD-40 or Goo Gone
If you have one of these household products, you can use any of them to remove tar from your car. Spray or pour WD-40 or Goo Gone onto a clean microfiber cloth and rub into the resin. Leave on for 10-30 minutes, then wipe off the resin with (another) clean microfiber cloth. If you’re using WD-40, take the time to wash off the tar stain after it’s been removed, as residue can damage your car’s paintwork.
Resin Remover
There are also products designed to remove tar (as well as products designed to rid your car of tar and bugs ) that you can purchase at your local auto parts store. Follow the instructions on the bottle, which probably include applying the product and rubbing it in with a microfiber cloth. It may take several cycles to completely remove the resin.